Fishing reel



April 3, 14951 Q E, PLOUFF v 2,547,282

FISHING REEL Filed Nov. 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. E. PLOUFF FISHINGREEL April 3, 1951 2 Shee cs-Sheet 2 Filed ROV, 4, 1944 INVENTOR. (71766f'cZ Z'. Qvc/ff mdd/Jy,

@iO/"Lexa Patented Apr. 3, 195i FISHING REEL Clifford E. Plouff,Seahurst Park, Wash., assignor to Copeman Laboratories Company, Flint,Mich., a corporation of Michigan vApplication November 4, 1944, SerialNo. 561,883

a claims. (c1. 24e-84.5)

'I'his invention relates to shing reels and particularly to a reelprovided with means which may be pre-set by the fisherman to control andlimit the distance which the bait is cast.

The invention further provides an improved and positive means topreventl the spool from over-riding the line when a cast is made, suchaction being commonly known as back-lash.

A further object is to provide a drag brake which exerts a maximum dragat the end of the cast instantly, to positively terminate rotation ofthe spool, but which is released and exerts no brakingeifect whatsoeverafter the hand crank is rotated a few turns to reel in the line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention rwill be readily apparentfrom the following description` and accompanying drawings wherein: fFig. 1 is -a rear elevation showing the reel assembly.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the left end of the assembly of Fig. 1.

'.Fg. 3 is an elevation showing the right end of the assembly of Fig. l.

-Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, partly in section, taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. l.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 8 isa sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4, showing thebrake control arm.

-Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a, portion of-the dial setting ring andcam surface for controlling the ultimate movement of the brake arm.

A In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a reel assembly comprising a tail plateIIl joined to,vbut spaced s from, a head plate II by three spacedpillars I2. The head and tail plate support a spool assembly I3 on whichthe line Vis wound. The spool f assembly is supported at its ends inbearings I4 and I5, mountedon the tail plate I0 and head platerespectively. A crank assembly I6 is attached to the reel by a nut Ilfor thepurpose of i' actuating thespoolassembly in a manner to behereafter described.

A reel seat I8 is rigidly attached to the two lower pillars I2 andprovidesy a means for at-A taching the reel to a fishing rod (notshown). A conventional levelrwind mechanism I9 is likewise mounted onthe reel assembly. As previously stated, the invention provides ametering device which may be pre-set by the operator to predetermine thelength of line to be unreeled when a cast is made. This metering devicehas in-V corporated therewith a means for controlling both the primaryback-lash, when the cast is initiated, and the secondary back-lash, whenthe bait strikes the water at the end of the cast.

Fundamentally, the distance control is obtained by a pre-set devicewhich, after a predetermined length of line has been unreeled, thusdecreasing the spool diameter,` permits the operation of a positivebrake'which `instantly engages the rotatingspool lto prevent furtherrotation thereof.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a plate 20 having a roller 2|attached to its upper end, which roller bears against the spool windings22. The

lower end'of the plate is rigidly attached toY a rotatable shaft 23,which shaft is rotatably supported at one end in the tail plate Ii), andat., its other end in a ring 24 supported by pillars I2 drical surfacenearest the tail plate I0 with ser.

A spring-pressed pawl 28 is disrations 21. posed in the knob V25 for thepurpose of engaging the serrations 2'I and thereby holding the knob inplace when it has been turned by the operator.

-A tapered shaft 29 is rigidly attached to the knob 25 as shown at 3|),and turns with the knob. The tapered end of the shaft 29 extends throughthe spring casing 26 and abuts the end of a slotted shaft 3| which shaftis rotatably supported by a plain bearing 32 formed in the tail plateI0. A coiled spring 33 has one of its ends 34 secured to the taperedshaft 29, and its other end 35 atwhereby the shafts 3| and 23 rotate asa unit.

In the operation of the portion of the device just described, thetension on spring 33 is set by the operator after a number` of trials todetermine his casting strength, that is, the force,

with which he usually casts. Once this has beendetermined, the springtension may be left at that setting, subject to an occasional check.Thetension of this spring is imparted to the plate 2@ all through thecast, this plate 2|) being the` plate which bears against the spooledline.

Thus the friction between the roller 2 I, carried by the plate 20, andthe spool, causes a dragging ac-v tion which serves as a brake on thespool as it is being unwcund, thus serving as a primary;A back-lashcontrol. However, itis desirable that the resistance of the plate 2!)and rollerl 2| to' the unwinding of the spool be decreased after aconsiderable amount of line has been unreeledj This is accomplished bytwo factors, (1) the decreasing diameter of the spoolv tends to un" windthe spring, or rather to allow the spring to unwind, and (2) the innercoils of the spring 33 tend to contract more than the outer coils'-because of the tapered portion of shaft 29. This really means that thespring 33, because of the tapered shaft 29, acts as two separatevsprings having entirely different tensions. The spring 33 is shown inFigure 6 under little tension but when key 25 is turned the spring willWind up and decrease in diameter to adapt itself to the mandrel shaft,In so doing the coils at the right (Fig. 6) will be smaller and undergreater ten.- sion but they will also unwind first as plate 20 shiftswith the line run out.` Y N The secondary back-lash control, whichbecomes effective at the end of vthe cast, comprises a positive brakewhich is automatically and instantly applied When a predetermined lengthof line has been unreeled. Referring to Fig. 1, the ring 24 whichvisjsupported by the pillars l2, is provided with a scale l31V which maybe Agraduated in feet, meters, Vor any 'other measure of length. Arotatable ring V38, also supported ,on pillars l2, isinterposedbetweenltand-head'plate Ill.V This ring may 'carry 'a pointer, such asan arrow 39, or any ,other suitable indicia. l l

Thering 38 (Fig. 6) Vis constructedto provide a means for'setting avcontrol vto determine the length ofY line tob'euunreeled. The innersurface of ring 38 c'arries'a track 4U inthe form of a single spiralwhich extends'on the inside of the ring from 4one 4vslide to the other.Afinember 4| rides on the track 4Q and is adjustabl'y'positioned to theright or left in Fig. 6, as determined by the position of ring 33, whichis in turn determined by the length of `line to be "unreeled An'arm 42is rigidly connected to ythe outer end of 'shaft23 and lies between the`two ngers 43 formed on member 4l, so that'movem'ent'of the member 4l tothe'right or left (Fig. 6) VKalsomoves the arm'42 inthe Sarne'diieotion.The slotted connection 3l with reduced en d portion 36 of shaft l23'permitssuch lateral `move`ment.

/ A supporting'member 44,'having an Ainwardly extending karm 4 5 "islrigidly attached to 'the head plate Ill by suitable means-'such as'ascrew 45. TheloWer end of arm 45provid`es apivoted bearing 4i forabrake-'carryingY member 48. t lMem-- ber v,48 is constantly urged intocontact with arm 42 by a coiled spring4`9 (Fig. 4) encircling theshaft'l, lwhich shaftispivoted inarm .'15 of "member, 4 4. vThe brakemember 4carries va braking lsurface l, which surface comprises asmall'piece of loilresivstan't, flexible fand-'resilient materialvsuchjas Yneopreneor V4some other syntheticrubber-like material. The side'vofmember 48 opposite the brakingjsurface 5l carriesa projection 52'whichfenga'ges the lupper end of arm 42. The projectionf isjtapered andis thus shifted laterally by movement'of 'arm4\2. v When a predeterminedamount of liner has been released, as determined by the setting vof ring'38,7Inernber4l and arm'4k2, the arm 42 contacts thetapered sidevof theprojection 52, rotating member llviaboutvitslpivot, and causing thebraking surface 5l to engage the rotating bell 53. lThis bell ispart o fand rotates with the spool assembly in a clockwise direction as Vviewedin Fig. 4 lwhen .line is feeding out. After such contact is made thebell has a tendency to pick up the shoe 51 and to continue to rotate,but as it does so, for a fraction of a turn only, it compresses theresilient brake shoe 5l Aagainst itself with ,a' wedging action whichcauses an immediate termination ofthe rotation of the vbell"53 andthespool assembly and prevents further release of the line. In the brakingmovement thevarm 48 moves4 in the direction of the bell surface which itis to contact. This sudden termination of the bells rotation in theoutgoing direction of the line causes a reactive force to be set upwhich rotates the bell a fraction of a revolution in the oppositedirection, Vbut sucient to release the brake shoe 5I, so that thepivoting member 48 falls back in contact with actuator arm 42 in whichposition shoe 5l first contacted the belll 53whereupon the reel is readyfor the winding-in operation. Thus, the braking Aaction of member 5|performs two functions. It automatically and positively stops rotationof the spoolin the outward direction, thus preventing back-lash, orcontinued rotation of the spool after the bait hits the water, and, byreason of its relatedr mechanism it stops such rotation whenaYpredetermined amount'or length of'line has been unreeled.

` The linvention Valso contemplates the fprovision of an automaticfree-'spooli'ng vdevice operable when Va cast-is-made to free the spoolassembly from the handle or crank, and which is ren"- deredautomatically inoperative when Vthe Vcrank is turned to reel in theline. In previous 'devices of this type =with which -I Vam rfamilian-ithas been necessary for 4the operator to make some manual adjustment lonthe reel, Veither before the cast is made-or before the line isreeleclReferring to Figs. '7 and 4, a flange 'or'bushing 68 'is rigidlyattached to the KAhead-plate "1|,

This ilange 4serves Aas a bearing fora hollow shaft 6|,to the outer endof which the crank i6 is attached by the `nut il. Atsolid shaftiiZvextends from the interior of the spool assembly into the hollow portionE3 -of "shaft 6I, which hollow portion serves as a vbearing4for'theshaft 62. The shaft S2jis rigidly-attached to "agbridge memberB4 which in turn is rigidly'attached to theheadfplate lI I. ShaftI 52servesgasa support for a large, hollowV externally toothedl gearfmem'-ber 65, and thegearf-member is provided with a flange 66 to whichisrigidly attached a lpinion 61. Thusthe gear v65 and pinion 61 rotate asaunit. I

It shouldjbe understood `that thesgear -65 and its flange 66 are freelyrotatable about theshaft B2. 'The gear 65 has a hollow interior ofcylindrical shapewhich serves asa friction clutch drum. The shoes whichengage this drum are designated by numeral 68,;and'as shownv in Fig. 4are of arcuate form andvpivoted at one Vend bypins 69 to ka'plate v'Ill'which is freely rotatable about shaft 6l. vThe plate N fis disposedjust inside the head plate YI-Ljandfthe shoesft'l are disposed insidethe hollow, 'cylindrical portion Ofgfal.

Externally toothed gear A 65 (drives ''pi'nion A'11., which is rigidlyattached to shaft v'1. 2 Vwhic'hi-drives the spool holding the iishingline, 'Pinion'fl drives-gear 13,atta-ched rigidly t'ofthe shaft 514 oflevel wind assembly V (5), l-S'h'ait ,Si "carrisat its inner end adouble cam 'l5 which, whentlie crank I 5 is rotated byl the operatordbalises! vthe shoes 68 tote'xpand and contact the innersurface ofhollow gear 65 thus positively 'driving 'this gear.

AIn the operation'of'myfree spoolingfdevice when a castisInade'thebrak'e shoes`68 are 'in the position shovvn'inl Fig. 4;, thatis, substantiallyrout of Contact with' the braking surface of geary B5.`Thus the spool Vassembly is free 'to rotate without turning the'crank'l However, when the cast v'has been` completed, Yand thepperatorAdesires 'to reel' in ,theflinav he rotates the crank a" clockwisedirection (Fig:v 4 )jin' the usual'inanier. thus'turning the "cam "15'and f s forcing the shoes 68 into driving contact with the internalsurface of gear 65. `Thereupon the gear 65 is rotated clockwise which inturn rotates the gear il in a counterA clockwise direction, which inturn rotates rthe spool 22 in a counter clockwise direction' and reelsin the line. When the line has been all reeled in the crank i6 isreleased and the shoes 68 drop by inertia from engagement with the gear65 or may be released .to a position of disengagement by a slightbackward movement of thev crank which will cause cam "I to contact heelprojections 68a on shoes 63 to cock the shoes inwardly. Likewise in acasting operation the cam l5 would be thrown against the projections 68ato disengage the shoes.

While the foregoing description discloses a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is understood that other embodiments may be constructed,and the measure of the invention shall be the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a fishing reel of the type having a rotatable spool for carryingline, a rotatable shaft extending axially parallel with, but outside theconnes of the spo-ol, a torsional spring acting on said shaft, means foradjusting Ythe torsional effect of said spring on said shaft, a platemounted on said shaft having one end bearing toward the center of thereel to exert frictional resistance on the line, a lever on the otherend of the shaft movable with the plate as said reel unwinds and a brakemember mounted on said reel adapted when shifted to bear against arevolving portion `of said reel to brake the same and so positioned t0be influenced by the movement of the lever to brake the reel after apredetermined reel out.

2. In a fishing reel of the type having a rotatable spool for carryingline, a rotatable shaft extending axially parallel with, but outside theconfines of the spool, a torsional spring acting on said shaft, meansfor adjusting thetorsional effect of said spring on said shaft, a platemounted on said shaft .havingV one end bearing toward the center of thereel to exert frictional resistance on the line, a lever on the otherend of the shaft movable with the plate as said reel unwinds and a brakemember mounted on said reel adapted when shifted to bear against arevolving portion of said reel to brake the same and so positioned to beinfluenced by the movement of the lever to brake the reel after apredetermined reel out, and adjustable means for shifting said leverlengthwise of said shaft to vary the point in reel-out at which itactuates thebrake member. Y

3. In a shing reel of the type having a rotatable spool for carryingline mounted between two frame members, a rotatable shaft extendingbetween said members, a torsional spring 4acting on said shaft, afriction member mounted on said shaft having one end bearing toward thecenter of the reel to exert frictional resistance and packing pressureon the reeled line, a radial extension on said shaft movable with thefriction member as said reel unwinds, and a brake member mounted'on saidreel adapted Iwhen shifted to bear against a revolving portion of saidreel to brake 'the same and positioned to be influenced by the movementof said radial extension to brake the reel after a predetermined reelout, the portion of the shaft on which said radial extension is mountedbeing splined with respect to another portion, and means to shift aportion of the shaft and radial extension thereon adjustably endwise Y sI to alter the point in reel-out at which the brake member is actuated.Y

4. In a shing vreel of the type vhaving a rotatable spool for carryingline mounted between two frame members, a rotatable shaft extendingbetween said members, afriction member mounted on said shaft having oneend bearing toward the center of the reel to exert frictional resistanceand packing pressure on the reeled line, an adjustment key mounted onsaid frame having a cylindrical chamber aligned ,with said shaft and aspring mandrel therein tapered toward said shaft, and a torsional springconcentric with said shaft and chamber having one end fastened to saidshaft and the other end lying within the cylindrical chamber of andfastened to said key whereby torsion placed on said spring will causesaid spring to wrap on to said tapered mandrel.

5. In a shing reel of the type having a rotatable spool for carryingline mounted between two frame members, a brake member movablypositioned on one of said frame members adapted to shift toward larevolving portion of said spool in the same direction as the reel-outmotion of said revolving portion, said brake member being resilientlypositioned to be picked up by said revolving portion when moved intoContact therewith to cause a binding brake action, and means associatedwith said brake member responsive to a predetermined reel-out motion ofsaid spool to shift said brake member toward said moving portion of saidspool.

6. In a shing reel of the type having a. rotatable spool for carryingline mounted between two frame members, a brake member movablypositioned on one of said frame members adapted to shift toward arevolving portion of said spool in the same direction as the reel-outmotion of said revolving portion, said brake member being resilientlypositioned to be picked up by said revolving portion when moved intocontact therewith to cause a binding brake action, means associated,-

with said brake member responsive to a predetermined reel-out motion ofsaid spool to shift said brake member toward said moving portion of saidspool, said last-named means mounted on said shaft having one endbearing toward the center of the reel to exert frictional resistance onthe line, resilient means urging said frictional means against said lineand a radial extension on another` portion of said shaft movable withsaid frictional means to contact said brake member to shift the sametoward said revolving portion of the spool. l

CLIFFORD E. PLOUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

(Addition t0 N0. 579,018.)

